Heat exchanger



J. F. ALCOCK April 11, 1950 HEAT EXCHANGER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.5, 1947 E /V IL 0 Inventor A llorney April 11, 1950 coc 2,503,651

a HEAT EXCHANGER Filed Dec. 5, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor PatentedApr. 11, 1950 nation.

UNITED STATES PATENT ore-leg 2,503,651 nm'r EXCHANGE]! John ForsterAlcock, North Lancing, England, assignor Harry Ralph Ricardo, London,England Application December 5, 1947, Serial No. 789,997 In GreatBritain December 5, 1948 This invention relates to heat exchangers ofthe regenerative type in which there is a rotatable member having amatrix of heat-conductive material which is subdivided into cells andtraversed by two fluid streams which are caused to flow alternatelythrough the matrix. One of these streams imparts heat to the matrixwhile the other fluid stream abstracts heat therefrom, the rotation ofthe matrix positioning each portion thereof in succession so that itwill be traversed alternately by the two fluid streams.

Hitherto this type of regenerator has been used in cases where thepressures of the two fluid streams differ little if at all, andconsequently it has been fairly easy to minimise leakage from one streamto the other as for instance by employing relatively simple means forsealing the structure. In a gas turbine plant however wherein theexhaust gases from the turbine are used to heat the cold gas deliveredby a compressor, and also in other apparatus such as an oxygen producingplant, the pressures of fluids in the two streams passed through theheat exchanger may be very different and more effective methods ofsealing become necessary.

The object of the present invention is to provide a particularconstruction and arrangement 5 Claims. (Ci. 257 -6) and around the cellstherein with the partitions in which there is a large flow cross sectionin a given bulk of the improved form of heat exthe present applicant.

In this improved type of heat exchanger there are comprised thefollowing features in combi- There is an annular matrix rotor, atoroidal casing in which the rotor fits and is 1'01- tatably mounted, aplurality of disc-like partitions which being spaced apartcircumferentially divide the matrix into cells or sections thesepartitions extending across the matrix and the interior of the casing ina radial direction relatively to the axis about which the matrix isrotatable,

two openings through each wall of the casing disposed diametricallyopposite or nearly so with respect to the axis of the apparatus and theopenings in one wall lying opposite to the openings in the other wall,these openings servingrespectively for the inflow and outflow of the twofluids which pass alternately across and through the matrix as the cellstherein are successively positioned opposite these openings while thematrix rotates, and tunnel-shaped passages running circumferentiallywithin the contour of the matrix rotor extending acrossv these passages.Preferably the partitions between the cells inthe matrix rotor carryspring rings resembling piston rings which constitute seals preventingfluid flow circumferentially between the fluid streams passing throughthe matrix. Conveniently for the puris preferably circular as beingconvenient for manufacture, but it may be elliptical or have some othersimilar shape which is a smooth continuous curve adapted to be sealed bydiscs and rings in the manner described.

Rotation may be imparted to the matrix rotor in various ways from asuitable source of power. For example where the heat exchanger is usedin conjunction with a gas turbine rotation may be transmitted to thepinions mentioned above through reduction gearing from the turbineshaft. The rotation of the matrix rotor may be continuous orintermittent as may be suitable in the apparatus in which the heatexchanger is employed.

According to this invention the construction comprises in combinationtwo or more rotors each constituted by an annular matrix rotatable in atoroidal casing and constructed and arranged as indicated above, therotors being all mounted on a common axis and either coaxially orconcentrically, means for simultaneously rotating all the rotors, and anouter casing enclosing all the rotors and their individual casings andprovided with passages through which the .hot and cold gases canrespectively flow and be caused to pass through all the rotors inopposite directions.

in accordance with the disposition of the several rotors.

The accompanying drawings illustrate some-' what diagrammaticallyalternative constructions that may be used in carrying the inventioninto practice. In these drawings,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a construction of theimproved heat exchanger in which there are three matrix rotors disposedcoaxially,

Figure 2 is a similar view in which there are three matrix rotorsdisposed concentrically,

Figure 3 is a part section on the line 3-3 in Figure 2 looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 1 of a further alternativeconstruction.

Referring to Figure 1 it will be seen that the three separate annularrotors A, B, and C all have different diameters and are arranged inseparate toroidal casings D, E and F. It will be perceived that each ofthese casings defines a true tore or torus, since its surface may beformed by rotating a conic section (in this case a circle) about astraight line lying in the plane of the curve of the circle but notintersecting the circle and it is in this sense that the word toroidalis employed herein. The several rotors may be conveniently designated asA the smallest, B of intermediate size and C the largest in diameterwith respect to their common axis. Conveniently as shown the toroidalenclosures or casings D, E and F containing the rotors A, B and C, areall circular in cross-section and these sections are all similar insize. The rotors are all mounted about a common axis and driven so thatthey will be rotated together being preferably equally spaced apart inthe axial direction. All the rotors are disposed within a common casingG in which is a central partition G about which the rotors turn. Withinthe casing G are twin passages on each side of the partition G, H is theintake to one passage whose outlet is at H, the second passage havingits inlet at J and its outlet at J Extending across each of thesepassages is a partition, namely K, in the passages HH and L in thepassage JJ These partitions are relatively inclined so that they appearas seen in Figure 1 as a V-formation In these partitions are openings KL through which the gases pass as they flow through the matrix materialin the several rotors. Through these openings can be seen, for examplein the case of the rotor C, the partitions C with their sealing rings Cwhich extend radially across the matrix material C and divide it intocells. Between the openings K and L casings. The drive is transmitted tothe several rotors first through a shaft M which passes out through thecasing G and has at its near end a bevel wheel M This wheel meshes witha bevel wheel N on the end of a shaft N which carries spaced apart alongits slightly skew gear wheels N". each of which meshes with acorresponding gear wheel on a shaft 0 This shaft has on it spaced apartthree gear wheels 0' through which the drive is transmitted to toothedracks carried by the rotors A, B and C.

A gas entering the casing G through th inlet J will pass through all therotor matrices A, .B and C and issue at J heat being given up to theseveral matrix bodies in the rotors. A second gas entering the casing Gat H will pass through the matrix rotors A, B and C in the reversedirection and issue from the outlet H the gas having taken up in itspassage heat from the rotor matrices, this heat as stated having beenimparted thereto by the gas flowing through the passage III-I In thisconstruction the gases in flowing through the passages in the casing Gwill pass in a substantially radial direction through the severalrotors.

The gear wheels on the shaft 0 through which the racks on the rotors aredriven differ in diameter, an arrangementwhich ensures that the severalrotors A, B and C are driven at substantially the same speed.

The outer casing G which encloses all the rotors may have a generallycylindrical external form with the twin openings H and J for the flow ofgases at one end and the twin openings H and J at the other end.

In some cases all the rotors A, B and C and their individual casings D,E and F may have the same diameter and they may then be spaced apartalong their common axis so that the easing structure G in which therotors are enclosed and move may have a generally cylindrical formation.The gas flow through the rotor matrices will then be in a positivelyradial direction.

Figure 2 shows an alternative construction wherein the rotors A B and Cdiffer in diameter and are placed with their toroidal casings D E and Fconcentrically about their common axis. In this case the gas flow isshown as taking place through twin passages which are distinct, beingconstituted by separate casings suitably connected, the one casingcomprising the connected parts P, Q and the other casing comprising theconnected parts P. Q. The passage P in the casing P is that throughwhich the gas enters to flow through the rotors in one direction,issuing through the passage Q in the easing Q. The flow in the oppositedirection enters the casing Q through the passage Q and issues throughthe passage P in the casing P The rotors are separately driven in thiscase in the same way as in the construction shown in Figure 1, that isto say the drive is initially transmitted through a gear wheel on theend of a shaft N which carries three gear wheels N respectively meshingwith gear wheels 0 on a shaft 0 which in turn carrie gear wheels throughwhich the racks on the rotors are driven in a way to be describedhereunder.

Such an arrangement as that illustrated in Figure 2 may be used to makeup a multi-rotor in which there may be two or more heat exchanger unitsas shown in Figure 2 mounted adjacent with the rotors all suitably andsimultaneously driven. The gas flows will then take place in successionthrough the rotors in all the units in opposite directions in the sameway as described with respect to Figure 2.

While for reasons of constructional simplicity it may be desirable tomake all the rotors similar with respect to the size of the annularmatrices and their toroidal casings as seen in cross-section, on theother hand in some cases it may be useful to give associated rotorsdifferent crosssectional dimensions.

The transmission from the gear wheels on the shafts O to the rotors ineach of the above doscribed constructions is eifected in the same way asin the apparatus described in the specification of the above-mentionedUnited States Patent No. 2,469,758. This transmission is shown in F18-ure 3 in the present drawings. Each rotor carries a toothed rack R whichextends round the periphery of the rotor, the continuity of each ofthese racks being interrupted by partitions in the rotors the partitionsextending transversely across the matrix material in the rotors. Meshingwith this rack are two toothed pinions S and T, rotatably mounted andpreferably enclosed. These pinions lie in the same plane, and they arespaced apart along the rack. Each pinion has a, part S T cut away so asto allow the pinion as it rotates to clear each partition U in a rotor.Each mutilated pinion SS and IT carries a similar pinion SET and boththese pinions mesh with a gear wheel on the shaft 0 The pinions S and Tare thus simultaneously driven and are at such a distance apart, andhave their cut away parts S T arranged in such rotational relationshipthat as the pinions are driven and in turn rotate the rack R, continuitywill be maintained in the transmission to the matrix rotor. When the cutaway part T of the pinion T is clearing a partition U it will be seenthat the other pinion S will be still in engagement with the rack R andmaintaining rotation of the matrix rotor.

In the construction shown in Figure 4 the arrangement is generallysimilar to that shown in Figure 1 except that the dimensions of thethree rotors and their associated parts *are the same. Thus in theconstruction shown in Figure 4 the rotors A, B, C correspond to therotors A, B and C of Figure 1, the toroidal casings D', E 1 correspondto the casings D, E and F of Figure 1, while the casing G corresponds to"the casing G in Figure 1 and contains passages on each side .of apartition G constituting intake and out-take passages H. H and intakeand out-take passages J', .7 correspond to the passages H, H and J, J ofthe construction shown in Figure :1. The various rotors are driven bygears M, H, a shaft N and gears N in a manner generally similar to thatemployed for driving the rotors in the construction shown in 18- ure 1,the duplex gearing as shown in Figur 3, however, not being visible inFigure 4.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A heating exchanger of the regenerative type comprising incombination a plurality of rotors each constituted by an annulargaspervious matrix of heat-conducting material, and radial partitionssubdividing the material into cells, a plurality of toroidal casings,each annular matrix being supported for rotation in one of said toroidalcasings, an outer casing enclosing said rotors, means mounting saidrotors in said outer casing for rotation about a common axis, means forrotating all the rotors simultaneously, said outer casing beingconstructed to provide a pair of passages defining separate fluid paths,means forming with said toroidal casings a partition extending acrosseach of said passages, each partition being formed with openings topermit flow of fluid in each path through said rotors, and means wherebytwo separate fluids are caused to flow in opposite directions throughthe said passages. whereby on rotation of said rotors each fluid willflow through all the ceilsin each rotor-as these cells are positioned insuccession in the fluid paths.

2. A heat exchanger embodying the features as set out in claim 1 inwhich the several rotors are disposed so that they are coaxial and liead- Jacent in planes spaced apart in the axial direction.

3. A heat exchanger embodying the features as set out in claim 1 inwhich the rotors have different diameters and are disposed so that theyare coaxial and lie adjacent in planes spaced apart in the axialdirection. 4. A heat exchanger embodying the features as set out inclaim 1 in which the rotors have all the same diameter and are disposedso that they are coaxial and lie adjacent in planes spaced apart in theaxial direction.

5. A heat exchanger embodying the features as set out in claim 1 inwhich the rotors have diiferent diameters and are disposed so that theyare all concentric.

JOHN mas'ma smock.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,603,026 Cook Oct. 12, 19261,722,788 Cook July 30. 1929

